Configuring FPGAs and the like using one or more serial memory devices

ABSTRACT

The configuration architecture for a programmable device, such as an FPGA, includes one or more memory devices connected directly to the FPGA such that the FPGA can be configured with configuration data stored in the memory devices without transmitting the configuration data via a controller connected between any of the memory devices and the FPGA. In one embodiment, the FPGA has an Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) that is connected to the SPI interface of each of one or more SPI serial flash PROMs operating as boot PROMs. When there are two or more boot PROMs, each PROM stores a portion of the FPGA&#39;s configuration data and the FPGA interleaves the data from multiple boot PROMs to generate a serial configuration data bitstream. The present invention enables boot PROMs having different sizes and/or storing different amounts of configuration data to be simultaneously connected to an FPGA to support efficient configuration architectures.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to programmable devices, such asfield-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and, in particular, totechniques for configuring such devices using external memory devices.

BACKGROUND

Volatile programmable devices, such as FPGAs, typically rely on externalstorage media to hold the bitstreams used to configure the devices. Forexample, programmable read-only memory (PROM) devices are often used tohold the configuration bitstreams for FPGAs. Such devices are referredto as “boot PROMs,” because they are used to boot (i.e., initialize)programmable devices, such as volatile FPGAs.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one conventional architecture forconfiguring an FPGA 102 in which a parallel PROM device 104 is used asthe boot PROM. As shown in FIG. 1, for a typical FPGA having about 8million bits of configuration data, a (disadvantageously large) total of29 FPGA pins are dedicated to this configuration architecture (i.e., 1pin for the chip select signal (/CS), one pin for the configurationclock signal (SCLK), eight pins for data, and 19 pins for addressing).Another disadvantage of this solution is the relatively large packagesize of parallel PROMs, which require a relatively larger amount of PCBboard space.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another conventional architecture forconfiguring an FPGA 202 using a parallel PROM 204 as the boot PROM, inwhich a controller 206 (e.g., a complex programmable logic device (CPLD)or a micro-controller) provides an interface between the parallel PROMand the FPGA. In order to reduce the number of pins consumed on theFPGA, controller 206 handles the addressing into PROM 204 and convertsthe parallel data received from PROM 204 into serial data fortransmission to FPGA 202 via a single FPGA pin (DIN).

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of yet another conventional architecturefor configuring an FPGA 302, in this case, using a serial PROM 304 asthe boot PROM, where a micro-controller 306 forms the interface betweenthe PROM and the FPGA. In one possible implementation, serial PROM 304is a non-volatile serial flash PROM that interfaces with anindustry-standard Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) on micro-controller306.

Although these controller-based solutions of FIGS. 2 and 3 reduce thenumber of FPGA pins consumed, they do so at the increased cost of havingto provide two chips to configure an FPGA: one chip for the memorydevice and one chip for the controller.

Companies, such as Atmel Corporation of San Jose, Calif., manufactureserial PROM devices as FPGA configuration devices that interfacedirectly to FPGAs (i.e., without an intermediary controller); however,these non-standard serial PROMs are proprietary and therefore typicallymore expensive than standard serial PROMs.

SUMMARY

Problems in the prior art are addressed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention by architectures for configuring aprogrammable device, such as a volatile FPGA, using one or more standardmemory devices (e.g., SPI serial flash PROMs) to store and provide theconfiguration data to the programmable device, without transmitting theconfiguration data via an intermediary controller connected between theprogrammable device and the memory device(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description, theappended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals identify similar or identical elements.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one conventional architecture forconfiguring an FPGA in which a parallel PROM device is used as the bootPROM;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another conventional architecture forconfiguring an FPGA using a parallel PROM as the boot PROM, in which acontroller provides an interface between the PROM and the FPGA;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of yet another conventional architecturefor configuring an FPGA, in this case, using a serial PROM as the bootPROM, where a micro-controller forms the interface between the PROM andthe FPGA;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an architecture for configuring an FPGA,according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a signal timing diagram for a boot cycle for thearchitecture of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an architecture for configuring an FPGA,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an architecture for configuring the FPGAof FIG. 6, when the FPGA is connected to only a pair of SPI serial flashPROMs; and

FIG. 8 shows a signal timing diagram for a portion of a boot cycle forthe architecture of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Single PROM Architecture

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an architecture for configuring an FPGA402, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4, a conventional SPI serial flash PROM device 404 is used as theboot PROM, where SPI interface 408 of PROM 404 is connected directly toan SPI interface 406 implemented within FPGA 402. As understood by thoseskilled in the art, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) conforms to anindustry standard specified by Motorola Corporation of Schaumburg, Ill.In a preferred implementation, SPI interface 406 of FPGA 402 isimplemented using dedicated circuitry, although, in alternativeimplementations, the SPI interface could be implemented—at leastpartially or even entirely—using the FPGA's programmable logic.

In addition to the connections between PROM 404 and FPGA 402, thearchitecture of FIG. 4 shows a number of connections (1) between acentral processing unit (CPU) (or other external controller) (not shownin FIG. 4) and the FPGA (e.g., at the PROGN, DONE, and ININ pins) and(2) between the CPU and the PROM (e.g., at the /RESET pin). Theseconnections are used for high-level control (e.g., start, suspend,resume, stop) over the process of configuring the FPGA (also referred toas the “boot cycle”).

The following list defines the signals transmitted via the labeled pinson PROM 404 used in the architecture of FIG. 4:

-   -   /CS: Chip select signal, received from the FPGA, used to enable        the PROM to receive the read command and the starting address        and to read out configuration command and data after the read        command is received.    -   SCK: Configuration clock signal, received from the FPGA, used to        control the timing of reading serial configuration data out from        the PROM.    -   SI: Tristate input signal, received from the FPGA.        Return-to-zero (RZ) high and low levels indicate bit values “1”        and “0”, respectively, of the command, then the starting address        of the configuration data.    -   SO: Upon receiving the read command and starting address on the        SI pin, serial output signal used to transmit a serial stream of        stored configuration command and data to the FPGA. This is also        a tristate signal, where high and low levels indicate bit values        “1” and “0”, respectively, and the tristated condition indicates        no data.    -   /RESET: (Optional) reset signal, received from the CPU or FPGA,        used to re-initialize the PROM to the beginning of the        configuration data.

The following list defines the signals transmitted via the labeled pinson FPGA 402 used in the architecture of FIG. 4:

-   -   CSSPIN: Chip select signal sent to the /CS pin of the PROM.    -   CCLK: Configuration clock signal sent to the SCK pin of the        PROM.    -   SISPI/BUSY: Read command and starting address/busy signal sent        to the SI pin of the PROM.    -   SOSPI/D0: “Data in” signal received from the SO pin of the PROM.    -   PROGN: “Boot on” signal, received from the CPU, used to inform        the FPGA that a boot cycle is beginning.    -   DONE: Used by the FPGA to indicate that the boot cycle is        complete and successful.    -   INITN: Used by the FPGA to indicate that the boot cycle is to        begin and complete with success.    -   CFG0-2: Three-bit configuration mode selection signal CFG, used        to select one of the eight possible configuration options        supported by the FPGA. The configuration modes include:        -   SPI03 mode: The FPGA sends the 8-bit read command opcode            00000011 (03 in hexadecimal) to the SI pin of the SPI PROM.            The opcode 03 is said to be hardwired inside the FPGA.            Certain SPI PROMs manufactured by STMicroelectronics NV            expect the read command opcode to be 03.        -   SPIX mode: The FPGA reads the 8-bit read command opcode from            the D0 . . . D7 pins of the FPGA and then sends the opcode            to the SI pin of the SPI PROM. This mode is selected if the            8-bit read command opcode of the SPI PROM is 03 or any            others. The read opcode is user programmable. The SPI PROM            manufactured by ATMEL Corp. expects the read command opcode            to be 01101000 (68 in hexadecimal).

In the prior art architectures of FIGS. 2–3, the FPGA operated as aslave device during the boot cycle in that the FPGA only receivedcommands and did not generate any commands for the memory device whileperforming configuration. As implied by the pin definitions listedabove, however, in addition to being able to receive boot commands anddata (e.g., via the PROGN, DONE, and INIT pins), FPGA 402 of the presentinvention is also capable of independently generating (e.g., withoutrelying on the CPU) boot commands for the PROM, such as the read commandand the starting address (e.g., via the SISPI/BUSY and CSSPIN pins) orinstructions to begin to read data from all of the boot PROMs. To thisextent, the FPGA operates as a master device, at least relative to thePROM. When the PROM receives the read command and the starting address,the SO pin is changed from tri-state to the enable state in order toread out the configuration command and data stored in the device. It ispresented to SO per each SCLK clock.

FIG. 5 shows a signal timing diagram for a boot cycle for thearchitecture of FIG. 4. During the entire timing diagram, VCC (not shownin FIG. 4) is high, indicating that the FPGA is powered on. At time T1,the CPU makes PROGN, an active-low signal, low to instruct the FPGA thata boot cycle is beginning. Soon after, at time T2, the FPGA makes (1)DONE low (indicating that the boot cycle is not yet complete) and (2)(active-low signal) INITN temporarily low (instructing the PROM to resetits pointer to the beginning of the stored configuration data).

From the time that the FPGA makes INITN high again at time T3 until timeT4, the FPGA is able to capture the configuration mode CFG, which inthis case is (000) indicating that the FPGA is set up into the SPI03configuration mode (e.g., the read opcode 03 will be send to the SPIPROM).

During the interval from time T0 to time T4, the status of CCLK isirrelevant, as indicated by shading. At time T4, the FPGA makes CCLKlow. At time T5, the FPGA makes (active-low signal) CSSPIN low, enablingthe PROM to be ready to receive commands from the FPGA and then transferconfiguration command and data to the FPGA.

At time T6, the FPGA begins to send the read command and then thestarting address on the SISPI/BUSY pin, and, soon after, at time T7, theFPGA starts to generate the configuration clock signal CCLK (starting atclock cycle 0) using a default clock rate (e.g., based on a clockinternal to the FPGA). During the first eight clock cycles (i.e.,labeled 0 to 7), the FPGA uses SISPI/BUSY to send to the PROM thestarting address of the configuration data in the PROM.

From clock cycle #8 through clock cycle #127, the PROM transfersconfiguration overhead data to the FPGA via SOSPI/D0. The FPGA ignoresthis over-head (dummy data) to give the PROM device ample time to switchfrom tri-state to the enable state and begin presenting validconfiguration command and data on the SO pin of the PROM device.

At the end of clock cycle #127, the PROM, having exhausted the dummydata, begins to transfer valid configuration command and data one bit ata time to the FPGA via SOSPI/D0. The transfer of configuration commandand data continues until all of the data has been read (at time T8), atwhich time the FPGA makes (1) DONE high (informing the CPU that the bootcycle is complete) and (2) CSSPIN high (disabling the PROM from sendingany more configuration data). From then on, the value of theconfiguration clock CCLK is again irrelevant, as indicated by shading.

Multiple PROM Architecture

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an architecture for configuring an FPGA602, according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 6, FPGA 602 is connected to a stack of eight different SPIserial flash PROM devices 604-0 to 604-7.

In particular, the SPI interface 608 of each boot PROM 604 is connectedto SPI interface 606 of FPGA 602, where SPI interface 606 has eightdifferent “data in” pins SOSPI/D0 to SOSPI/D7, each of which isconnected to the SO pin of one of the eight PROMs, while each of theCSSPIN, CCLK, and SISPI/BUSY pins of FPGA 602 is simultaneouslyconnected to the /CS, SCLK, and SI pins, respectively, of all eightPROMs. The definitions of these pins are analogous to the pindefinitions given above for the architecture of FIG. 4. Although notshown in FIG. 6, FPGA 602 also has pins analogous to the PROGN, DONE,and INITN pins of FPGA 402 of FIG. 4, and each PROM 604 has an optionalpin analogous to the /RESET pin of PROM 404 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 6, the three configuration mode pins CFG0-2 are not shown asbeing connected to ground. CFG0-2 pins can be set, for example, to 000in order to select the SPI03 mode to send the read command opcode 03, orto 100 in order to select the SPIX mode to send the programmable readcommand opcode to the PROM devices in parallel. In general, theconfiguration command embedded in the bitstream stored in the PROMdevice connected to the SISPI/D0 pin of the FPGA indicates how many bootPROMs are currently connected to the FPGA in a particular architecture.

In addition, FIG. 6 shows FPGA 602 having a pin D0, which can be used inconfigurations having two or more FPGAs connected in a daisy-chainfashion, to enable the configuration command and data to be bypassed oroverflow to the next FPGA device in the daisy chain.

FIG. 6 also has an insert 610 showing a blown-up view of the portion ofSPI interface 606 of FPGA 602 corresponding to the data input pinsSOSPI/D0 to SOSPI/D7 and the configuration clock output pin CCLK. Asshown in insert 610, SPI interface 606 has an 8:1 multiplexer (mux) 612that serializes the eight different serial data streams received fromthe eight different PROMs 604 to generate serial bitstream 614, which isfurther appropriately distributed and processed within the FPGA toconfigure the FPGA using standard FPGA configuration processing.

As described previously, FPGA 602 can be connected to any number of bootPROMs from one to eight. Timing controller 616 generates a three-bit muxcontrol signal 618 to control the operations of mux 612 to properlygenerate serial bitstream 614 from the serial data streams received fromthe existing boot PROMs. In one implementation, control signal 618corresponds to bits 28, 29, and 30 of control register 0 in the FPGA. Ingeneral, control signal 618 is initialized to (000), which causes mux612 to output serial data received at the SOSPI/D0 pin from PROM 604-0.Similarly, when the command is received by the FPGA to set controlsignal 618 is (001), mux 612 outputs serial data received at theSOSPI/D1 pin from PROM 604-1, and so on for the rest of the serial datareceived at and from the other pins and PROMs.

Timing controller 616 changes the value of mux control signal 618 basedon (1) a local clock signal 620 generated by an internal oscillator (notshown) and (2) a counter setting 622 that is equal to the number of bootPROMs that are currently connected to the FPGA and which currently haveconfiguration data to transmit to the FPGA. In addition, timingcontroller 616 generates the configuration clock signal CCLK, which istransmitted to the SCK pin of each boot PROM, as local clock signal 620divided by counter setting 622.

For example, for the architecture of FIG. 6, in which eight boot PROMssimultaneously transmit serial data to the FPGA, timing controller 616changes the value of mux control signal 618 at every cycle of localclock signal 620, e.g., to cycle through the eight different mux inputsin a sequential circular manner, while the configuration clock signalCCLK cycles once for every eight cycles of local clock signal 620. Inthis way, one bit from each boot PROM is interleaved by mux 612 to formone byte of serial bitstream 614 during every cycle of the configurationclock signal CCLK.

As another example, if FPGA 602 were connected to only four boot PROMs(e.g., at SOSPI/D0 though SOSPI/D3), then counter setting 622 wouldequal four, the configuration clock signal CCLK would cycle once forevery four cycles of local clock signal 620, and one bit from each ofthe four boot PROMs would be interleaved by mux 612 to form four-bits ofserial bitstream 614 during every cycle of the configuration clocksignal CCLK.

This pattern can be analogously extended to architectures having theother numbers of boot PROMs (i.e., one, two, three, five, six, andseven), with appropriate dividing of the local clock signal andcorresponding control over the mux. The present invention can also beextended to architectures having more than eight boot PROMs by usinglarger muxes and corresponding control algorithms.

In a preferred embodiment, a boot PROM is always connected to SOSPI/D0,any second boot PROM is connected to SOSPI/D1, any third boot PROM isconnected to SOSPI/D2, and so on for however many boot PROMs there are.While this connection rule simplifies the implementation of timingcontroller 616, alternative embodiments having more complicated timingcontrollers may be able to support alternative connection schemes.

As mentioned previously, counter setting 622 identifies the number ofboot PROMs that are currently connected to the FPGA and which currentlyhave configuration data to transmit to the FPGA. In a preferredimplementation, FPGA 602 is capable of (1) reading different amounts ofconfiguration data from different boot PROMs and (2) beingsimultaneously connected to boot PROMs having different sizes. Forexample, assume that FPGA 602 can store up to three million bits ofconfiguration data. In that case, FPGA 602 could be connected to asingle standard-sized 4-Mbit SPI serial flash PROM that provides theconfiguration data to the FPGA, but this would involve a waste of 1Mbits of capacity. Alternatively, FPGA 602 could be connected to threestandard-sized 1-Mbit SPI serial flash PROMs, each of which provides ⅓of the configuration data to the FPGA.

In another architecture, FPGA 602 is connected to one standard-sized2-Mbit SPI serial flash PROM and one standard-sized 1-Mbit SPI serialflash PROM, where the 2-Mbit PROM stores ⅔of the configuration data andthe 1-Mbit PROM stores the rest (i.e., ⅓). In this case, with the 2-MbitPROM connected to SOSPI/D0 and the 1-Mbit PROM connected to SOSPI/D1,FPGA 602 could initially read and interleave data from both boot PROMsfor the first 2 Mbits of configuration data and then change its clocktiming and mux control to read the last 1 Mbits of configuration datafrom only the 2-Mbit PROM. In this way, FPGA 602 can be efficientlyconfigured using a minimal number of standard-sized boot PROMs.

Although FPGA 602 can be connected simultaneously to two of more bootPROMs of different sizes and storing different amounts of data, it isalso possible to (1) connect FPGA 602 to two or more boot PROMs of thesame size, which store different amounts of data or (2) connect FPGA 602to two or more boot PROMs of different sizes, which nevertheless storethe same amount of data.

In a preferred embodiment, the value for counter setting 622 is based onthe configuration mode signal CFG and from information contained in theconfiguration data stored in the different boot PROMs. For example, FPGA602 may be designed to initially read data from only the first bootPROM. Information encoded in that data instructs the FPGA when to beginto read data from other connected boot PROMs, if any (as indicated bythe configuration mode signal CFG). Similarly, information encoded insubsequent configuration data can be used to inform the FPGA when one ormore of the boot PROMs are running out of configuration data totransmit.

In a preferred implementation of FPGA 602, larger boot PROMs and/or bootPROMs having more configuration data are connected to lower numbereddata bits (e.g., SOSPI/D0, rather than SOSPI/D7), although this is notnecessarily required for all implementations.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an architecture for configuring FPGA 602of FIG. 6, when FPGA 602 is connected to only a pair of SPI serial flashPROM devices 604-0 and 604-1. In this case, the SOSPI/D0 pin of FPGA 602is connected to receive data from the SO pin of PROM 604-0 and theSOSPI/D1 pin of FPGA 602 is connected to receive data from the SO pin ofPROM 604-1, while the SOSPI/D2-7 are not connected (NC) to any bootPROMs. In this case, mux 612 of FIG. 6 interleaves the configurationdata from the two PROMs to generate the serial bitstream used toconfigure the FPGA.

Although not necessarily depicted in FIG. 7, FPGA 602 and each PROM 604has all of the analogous connections shown for the FPGAs and PROMs ofFIGS. 4 and 6. For example, in this case, FPGA 602 would receive aconfiguration mode signal CFG of (001) to indicate that the FPGA isconnected to two PROMs.

FIG. 8 shows a signal timing diagram for a portion of a boot cycle forthe architecture of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, CCLK_int corresponds to localclock signal 620 of FIG. 6. Similarly, DATA_int corresponds to serialbitstream 614 of FIG. 6.

As indicated in FIG. 8, after FPGA 602 sends the read command and thestarting address to the two boot PROMs 604-0 and 604-1 in parallel viaSISPI/BUSY (similar to the processing represented in FIG. 5), the FPGAbegins by reading the data coming out of only one boot PROM (604-0 inthis implementation). Any data coming out of the other boot PROM 604-1is ignored until the command not to ignore it (i.e., SISPI/BUSY goingfrom low to tristated as in FIG. 5) is received.

This initial processing of only boot PROM 604-0 data is represented inFIG. 8 prior to time T1. As shown in FIG. 8, during this initial timeperiod, the configuration clock signal CCLK sent from the FPGA to bothboot PROMs is set equal to the internal clock CCLK_int. In response,both boot PROMs transmit data to the FPGA at that clock rate, but, byappropriately controlling mux 612, the data from only PROM 604-0 (i.e.,SOSPI/D0) is used to generate the internal serial bitstream DATA_int,while the data from PROM 604-1 (i.e., SOSPI/D1) is ignored.

FIG. 8 represents the last four bits (i.e., Bits 28–31) of a 32-bit (inthis particular example) control signal transmitted from PROM 604-0 tothe FPGA during this initial time period. This control signal, which isimmediately interpreted by the FPGA, has embedded within it the commandto instruct the FPGA to start processing (in this case, at time T1) thebitstream(s) coming out of the rest of the boot PROMs in thearchitecture (in this case, the one other bitstream coming out of theone other boot PROM 604-1). Time T1 of FIG. 8 is analogous to the startof clock cycle #128 in FIG. 5.

Thus, at time T1, based on the fact that the configuration control modesignal CFG indicated that there are two boot PROMs, the FPGA changes therate of the configuration clock signal CCLK to be half the rate of itsinternal clock signal CCLK_int. This causes the two boot PROMs to beginto transmit configuration data at half the rate as they did before timeT1.

Similar to the processing described previously for FIG. 6, mux 612within FPGA 602 receives data from both boot PROMs and interleaves thenat the bit level to generate the internal serial bitstream DATA_int. Asrepresented in FIG. 8, boot PROM 604-0 stores all of the even numberedconfiguration data bits, while boot PROM 604-1 stores all of the oddnumbered configuration data bits. In response to CCLK clock cycle #0,PROM 604-0 transmits configuration data Bit 0 to the FPGA at the sametime that PROM 604-1 transmits configuration data Bit 1 to the FPGA.During CCLK_int clock cycle #0, the mux passes Bit 0 received fromSOSPI/D0 to DATA_int. Then, during CCLK_int clock cycle #1, the muxpasses Bit 1 received from SOSPI/D1 to DATA_int. This data interleavingprocess continues as long as there is valid configuration datatransmitted from both boot PROMs. (Note that, as indicated in FIG. 8,the FPGA's six other boot PROM data input pins (i.e., SOSPI/D2-D7) areignored throughout the boot cycle.)

If boot PROM 604-1 stores less configuration data then boot PROM 604-0,then the data from PROM 604-1 will be exhausted ahead of the data fromPROM 604-0. In that case (not represented in FIG. 8), the configurationdata will contain control data to instruct the FPGA to stop processingdata from PROM 604-1. When that occurs, the FPGA will return theconfiguration clock signal CCLK back to its original rate and the FPGA'smux will return to passing data from only PROM 604-0 on to DATA_int.

In general, the FPGA can be controlled to include or exclude data fromany one or any combination of boot PROMs in the serialization process.As described previously, in this way, the FPGA can selectively stopreading from a boot PROM when all the configuration data stored in thatparticular PROM has been transferred to the FPGA. This capabilityenables the FPGA to be connected simultaneously to multiple boot PROMshaving different sizes (or densities). For example, if the configurationbitstream for an FPGA is three million bits, but the standard sizes ofPROMs are 1 Mbits, 2 Mbits, and 4 Mbits, then the FPGA configurationarchitecture can be efficiently implemented using two standard-sizedPROMs as its multiple boot PROMs: a 1 Mbit PROM and a 2 Mbit PROM. Thissolution may be more advantageous that either (1) a single-PROMarchitecture that uses a single 4 Mbit PROM (which wastes 1 Mbits ofcapacity) or (2) a three-PROM architecture that uses three 1 Mbit PROMs(which has a higher device count).

In any case, after the FPGA has received all of its configuration datafrom the boot PROMs, the FPGA will terminate communication with all ofthe boot PROMs by driving the chip select signal CSSPIN high to disableall of the boot PROMs.

Although the present invention has been described in the context ofbit-level interleaving of configuration data from different boot PROMs,those skilled in the art will understand that, in alternativeembodiments, the interleaving can be implemented at levels other than asingle bit (e.g., at a byte level). Such embodiments might havedifferent timing characteristics and might need to provide buffering ofconfiguration data prior to the actual interleaving.

Although the present invention has been described in the context ofFPGAs, those skilled in the art will understand that the presentinvention can be implemented in the context of other types ofprogrammable devices, such as, without limitation, programmable logicdevices (PLDs), mask-programmable gate arrays (MPGAs), simpleprogrammable logic device (SPLDs), and complex programmable logicdevices (CPLDs). More generally, the present invention can beimplemented in the context of any kind of electronic device thatrequires configuration data.

Although the present invention has been described in the context ofembodiments in which serial PROMs are used to store configuration data,in other embodiments, other types of memory devices can be used,including (1) other types of serial memory devices, such as serialrandom access memory (RAM) devices, and (2) even non-serial memorydevices. For example, in theory, the present invention could beimplemented using two or more parallel memory devices to storeconfiguration data, where each memory device has two (or more) paralleloutput data pins that get connected directly to a corresponding numberof pins on the programmable device being configured.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details,materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the following claims.

1. A programmable device comprising a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)adapted to be connected in parallel to an SPI interface of each of twoor more SPI serial memory devices such that the programmable device isadapted to receive a different portion of configuration data stored ineach SPI serial memory device without transmitting the configurationdata via a controller connected between the SPI serial memory devicesand the programmable device.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein: theprogrammable device is an FPGA; and each SPI serial memory device is anSPI serial flash PROM.
 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein theprogrammable device is adapted to independently generate at least onecommand adapted to control operations of each SPI serial memory deviceduring configuration of the programmable device.
 4. The invention ofclaim 1, wherein the programmable device is adapted to generate amessage to inform each SPI serial memory device of a starting address tobe used to transfer the configuration data stored in said each SPIserial memory device to the programmable device.
 5. The invention ofclaim 1, wherein the programmable device is adapted to receiveinstructions to ignore data from at least one of the SPI serial memorydevices.
 6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the programmable device isadapted to retrieve the instructions from the configuration data.
 7. Theinvention of claim 1, wherein the programmable device is adapted to beinstructed, based on information contained in the configuration data, asto how to interpret the different portions of the configuration datareceived from the different SPI serial memory devices.
 8. The inventionof claim 1, wherein the programmable device is adapted to processdifferent amounts of configuration data received from different SPIserial memory devices.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the two ormore different SPI serial memory devices are of two or more differentsizes capable of storing the different amounts of the configurationdata.
 10. The invention of claim 8, wherein the programmable device isadapted to stop including data from an SPI serial memory device that hasalready transmitted all of its configuration data.
 11. The invention ofclaim 1, wherein the programmable device comprises: a multiplexer (mux)adapted to interleave the configuration data from the two or moredifferent SPI serial memory devices; and a timing controller adapted tocontrol the operations of the mux and to generate a configuration clocksignal used to control the timing of the reading of the configurationdata from the two or more different SPI serial memory devices.
 12. Theinvention of claim 11, wherein the timing controller is adapted to (1)change the operations of the mux and (2) change the rate of theconfiguration clock signal, when the number of SPI serial memory deviceshaving configuration data to transmit changes.
 13. The invention ofclaim 1, wherein each different portion of the configuration data fromthe corresponding SPI serial memory device is received at a differentconfiguration data input pin of the SPI interface of the programmabledevice.
 14. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of one or more outputpins of the programmable device is adapted to be connected tocorresponding pins of all of the SPI serial memory devices.
 15. Theinvention of claim 14, wherein the programmable device has aconfiguration clock signal pin adapted to be connected to correspondingconfiguration clock signal pins of all of the SPI serial memory devicessuch that configuration data is transmitted simultaneously from all ofthe SPI serial memory devices to the programmable device.
 16. Theinvention of claim 1, wherein the different portions of theconfiguration data are adapted to be simultaneously transmitted inparallel to the programmable device.
 17. An apparatus comprising: aprogrammable device having a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI); and twoor more SPI serial memory devices, each having an SPI interface,wherein: the SPI interface of the programmable device is connected inparallel to the SPI interfaces of the SPI serial memory devices suchthat the programmable device is adapted to receive a different portionof configuration data stored in each different SPI serial memory devicewithout transmitting the configuration data via a controller connectedbetween the SPI serial memory devices and the programmable device. 18.The invention of claim 17, wherein the different portions of theconfiguration data are adapted to be simultaneously transmitted inparallel to the programmable device.
 19. A method for configuring aprogrammable device, comprising: reading a different portion ofconfiguration data from a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) of each oftwo or more different SPI serial memory devices connected in parallel toan SPI interface of the programmable device without transmitting theconfiguration data via a controller connected between the SPI serialmemory devices and the programmable device; and configuring theprogrammable device using the configuration data.
 20. The invention ofclaim 19, wherein the different portions of the configuration data aresimultaneously transmitted in parallel to the programmable device.
 21. Aprogrammable device adapted to be connected in parallel to two or morememory devices such that the programmable device is adapted to receiveconfiguration data stored in the two or more memory devices withouttransmitting the configuration data via a controller connected betweenany of the memory devices and the programmable device, wherein theprogrammable device is adapted to receive a different portion of theconfiguration data from each different memory device, and wherein one ormore of (a)–(i): (a) the programmable device has an SPI interface; eachmemory device is an SPI serial memory device having an SPI interface;and the SPI interface of each SPI serial memory device is connected tothe SPI interface of the programmable device; (b) the programmabledevice is adapted to independently generate at least one command adaptedto control operations of the memory devices during configuration of theprogrammable device; (c) the programmable device is adapted to generatea message to inform the memory devices of a starting address to be usedto transfer the configuration data stored in the memory devices to theprogrammable device; (d) the programmable device is adapted to receiveinstructions to ignore data from a memory device; (e) the programmabledevice is adapted to be instructed, based on information contained inthe configuration data, as to how to interpret the different portions ofthe configuration data received from the different memory devices; (f)the programmable device is adapted to process different amounts ofconfiguration data received from different memory devices; (g) theprogrammable device comprises: a multiplexer (mux) adapted to interleavethe configuration data from the two or more different memory devices;and a timing controller adapted to control the operations of the mux andto generate a configuration clock signal used to control the timing ofthe reading of the configuration data from the two or more differentmemory devices; (h) each different portion of the configuration datafrom the corresponding memory device is received at a differentconfiguration data input pin of the programmable device; and (i) each ofone or more output pins of the programmable device is adapted to beconnected to corresponding pins of all of the memory devices; and theprogrammable device has a configuration clock signal pin adapted to beconnected to corresponding configuration clock signal pins of all of thememory devices such that configuration data is transmittedsimultaneously from all of the memory devices to the programmabledevice.
 22. The invention of claim 21, wherein: the programmable devicehas an SPI interface; each memory device is an SPI serial memory devicehaving an SPI interface; and the SPI interface of each SPI serial memorydevice is connected to the SPI interface of the programmable device. 23.The invention of claim 21, wherein the programmable device is adapted toindependently generate the at least one command adapted to control theoperations of the memory devices during the configuration of theprogrammable device.
 24. The invention of claim 21, wherein theprogrammable device is adapted to generate the message to inform thememory devices of the starting address to be used to transfer theconfiguration data stored in the memory devices to the programmabledevice.
 25. The invention of claim 21, wherein the programmable deviceis adapted to receive the instructions to ignore the data from thememory device.
 26. The invention of claim 25, wherein the programmabledevice is adapted to retrieve the instructions from the configurationdata.
 27. The invention of claim 21, wherein the programmable device isadapted to be instructed, based on the information contained in theconfiguration data, as to how to interpret the different portions of theconfiguration data received from the different memory devices.
 28. Theinvention of claim 21, wherein the programmable device is adapted toprocess the different amounts of configuration data received from thedifferent memory devices.
 29. The invention of claim 28, wherein the twoor more different memory devices are of two or more different sizescapable of storing the different amounts of the configuration data. 30.The invention of claim 28, wherein the programmable device is adapted tostop including data from a memory device that has already transmittedall of its configuration data.
 31. The invention of claim 21, whereinthe programmable device comprises: the multiplexer (mux) adapted tointerleave the configuration data from the two or more different memorydevices; and the timing controller adapted to control the operations ofthe mux and to generate the configuration clock signal used to controlthe timing of the reading of the configuration data from the two or moredifferent memory devices.
 32. The invention of claim 31, wherein thetiming controller is adapted to (1) change the operations of the mux and(2) change the rate of the configuration clock signal, when the numberof memory devices having configuration data to transmit changes.
 33. Theinvention of claim 21, wherein each different portion of theconfiguration data from the corresponding memory device is received at adifferent configuration data input pin of the programmable device. 34.The invention of claim 21, wherein each of one or more output pins ofthe programmable device is adapted to be connected to corresponding pinsof all of the memory devices, wherein the programmable device has theconfiguration clock signal pin adapted to be connected to thecorresponding configuration clock signal pins of all of the memorydevices such that the configuration data is transmitted simultaneouslyfrom all of the memory devices to the programmable device.
 35. Theinvention of claim 21, wherein the different portions of theconfiguration data are adapted to be simultaneously transmitted inparallel to the programmable device.
 36. An apparatus comprising: aprogrammable device; and two or more memory devices, wherein: theprogrammable device is connected in parallel to each memory device suchthat the programmable device is adapted to receive configuration datastored in the two or more memory devices without transmitting theconfiguration data via a controller connected between any of the memorydevices and the programmable device, wherein the programmable device isadapted to receive a different portion of the configuration data fromeach different memory device, and wherein one or more of (a)–(i): (a)the programmable device has an SPI interface; each memory device is anSPI serial memory device having an SPI interface; and the SPI interfaceof each SPI serial memory device is connected to the SPI interface ofthe programmable device; (b) the programmable device is adapted toindependently generate at least one command adapted to controloperations of the memory devices during configuration of theprogrammable device; (c) the programmable device is adapted to generatea message to inform the memory devices of a starting address to be usedto transfer the configuration data stored in the memory devices to theprogrammable device; (d) the programmable device is adapted to receiveinstructions to ignore data from a memory device; (e) the programmabledevice is adapted to be instructed, based on information contained inthe configuration data, as to how to interpret the different portions ofthe configuration data received from the different memory devices; (f)the programmable device is adapted to process different amounts ofconfiguration data received from different memory devices; (g) theprogrammable device comprises: a multiplexer (mux) adapted to interleavethe configuration data from the two or more different memory devices;and a timing controller adapted to control the operations of the mux andto generate a configuration clock signal used to control the timing ofthe reading of the configuration data from the two or more differentmemory devices; (h) each different portion of the configuration datafrom the corresponding memory device is received at a differentconfiguration data input pin of the programmable device; and (i) each ofone or more output pins of the programmable device is adapted to beconnected to corresponding pins of all of the memory devices; and theprogrammable device has a configuration clock signal pin adapted to beconnected to corresponding configuration clock signal pins of all of thememory devices such that configuration data is transmittedsimultaneously from all of the memory devices to the programmabledevice.
 37. The invention of claim 36, wherein the different portions ofthe configuration data are adapted to be simultaneously transmitted inparallel to the programmable device.
 38. A method for configuring aprogrammable device, comprising: simultaneously reading configurationdata from two or more memory devices connected in parallel to theprogrammable device without transmitting the configuration data via acontroller connected between any of the memory devices and theprogrammable device, wherein the programmable device receives adifferent portion of the configuration data from each different memorydevice; and configuring the programmable device using the configurationdata, wherein one or more of (a)–(i): (a) the programmable device has anSPI interface; each memory device is an SPI serial memory device havingan SPI interface; and the SPI interface of each SPI serial memory deviceis connected to the SPI interface of the programmable device; (b) theprogrammable device is adapted to independently generate at least onecommand adapted to control operations of the memory devices duringconfiguration of the programmable device; (c) the programmable device isadapted to generate a message to inform the memory devices of a startingaddress to be used to transfer the configuration data stored in thememory devices to the programmable device; (d) the programmable deviceis adapted to receive instructions to ignore data from a memory device;(e) the programmable device is adapted to be instructed, based oninformation contained in the configuration data, as to how to interpretthe different portions of the configuration data received from thedifferent memory devices; (f) the programmable device is adapted toprocess different amounts of configuration data received from differentmemory devices; (g) the programmable device comprises: a multiplexer(mux) adapted to interleave the configuration data from the two or moredifferent memory devices; and a timing controller adapted to control theoperations of the mux and to generate a configuration clock signal usedto control the timing of the reading of the configuration data from thetwo or more different memory devices; (h) each different portion of theconfiguration data from the corresponding memory device is received at adifferent configuration data input pin of the programmable device; and(i) each of one or more output pins of the programmable device isadapted to be connected to corresponding pins of all of the memorydevices; and the programmable device has a configuration clock signalpin adapted to be connected to corresponding configuration clock signalpins of all of the memory devices such that configuration data istransmitted simultaneously from all of the memory devices to theprogrammable device.
 39. A programmable device comprising a SerialPeripheral Interface (SPI) adapted to be connected to an SPI interfaceof at least one SPI serial memory device such that the programmabledevice is adapted to receive configuration data stored in the SPI serialmemory device without transmitting the configuration data via acontroller connected between the SPI serial memory device and theprogrammable device, wherein the programmable device is adapted toreceive instructions to ignore data from an SPI serial memory device.40. The invention of claim 39, wherein the programmable device isadapted to retrieve the instructions from the configuration data.